And here we are, the twentieth chapter of Walking a Wirewhich is beginning to get out of my control. As in--Ashani wasn't supposed to exist and she plays a fairly significant role at the end of this chapter. Also, the Wolves are taking on a life of their own, and the characters are developing differently that I thought they were supposed to. Oh well, not like my well-crafted plot was ever going to actually come to pass anyway. And this afternoon my plans for the sequal got derailed and I had to throw the plot out for that one, too. Such is the life of a writer.

But enough of my whining--let's get on with the important stuff! You should know the disclaimer by now, so just enjoy the show!

Chapter XX: My Enemy, My Friend

"Princess, I have brought my report."

"Continue."

"The military force is currently in Sodai, they will be meeting the Red Naval Unit this evening. No new information can be provided on the archer, however."

"It doesn't matter anymore. I've learned who the accomplice is, and I intend to punish the traitor at once."

"Yes, Princess Azula. Do you have any further orders?"

"Yes. Bring the Guardsmen heading for Kishima back to the capital."

"Milady?"

"There's been a change of plans--Father made the change himself. Do you dare question your Fire Lord?"

"N-no, Princess. We will send the messages at once."

"See that you do. You may go, and tell the next that he may enter."

"Very well, Princess."

"Milady, I hear you have some new information on the accomplice to the traitor?"

"Yes, and I already have the situation well in hand. One of my most trusted assistants will be overseeing the operation personally. Is there a problem?"

"No, milady."

"Good. You may go."

"Where is that servant?" Ty Lee stood munching on some fire flakes as she waited for the girl that Azula said would soon be here. The crowds at the market flowed around her as she looked for the description Azula had given--brown hair, about average height, an unhealthy obsession with pink, and dumb as a rock. Azula said she would be visiting this stand this morning. So, where is she? Looking around with a mouthful of flakes, she spotted a large figure in a cloak making its way through the crowd. As the figure approached, she decided that it was simply going to the stall next to her and went back to the bag of fire flakes.

"Miss, may I speak with you?" The man's voice nearly made her spill the bag of flakes as she looked up at the cloaked figure. For some reason, the way he was holding himself was familiar, but she couldn't place it.

"Umm, I really can't talk right now. I'm supposed to be watching for someone."

"I promise it will only take a moment. I just need to talk with you privately."

"I--uh, I really don't think I should leave right now. No offense, but I don't know anything about you." She could have sworn the man growled from under the cloak, but he walked off quickly and was soon lost amid the morning shoppers.

Returning to her bag, she continued scanning the market between mouthfuls, watching as the vendors yelled out their prices and one argued endlessly with a customer who claimed that their Authentic Earth Kingdom Floor Mats were made on the next island over.

As she was watching, a sound caught her attention from behind her. Turning and listening, she caught a faint mewling coming from the shadows in the alley. Rounding a corner, she spotted the source--a tiny armadillo-kitten had been caught in a trap meant for the lizard-rats that plagued the market.

"Hold on little guy, I'll get you out of there." Reaching down, she began releasing the catch holding the kitten's leg. Unfortunately the kitten had other ideas, and she retreated sucking at her bleeding fingers. "I just want to help. You don't need to be scared of me." Nonetheless, she carefully pinned the kitten away from her hand as she released the catch, and the kitten shot off into the alley.

"There's a good little--" Her next words were cut off by the hand that clamped over her mouth, and her hands were pinned to the ground. Looking down, her eyes widened as she recognized what was holding her hands to the dirt.

"Miss Ty Lee, you are under arrest for crimes against the Fire Nation, including deliberate harm to production facilities, attacks on military personnel, and conspired treason against the throne." It was the man's voice from the market, but now she saw the Dai Li agent to whom it belonged as he stood over her, his expression blank as she tried to yell through the rock glove forcing her mouth closed.

Treason?

"So, is he going to be alright?" The old man's voice was laced with worry as he, Aang, Katara, and Toph sat in the entry room. After depositing Sokka in one of the beds, Katara had finally succeeded in fixing Toph's nose, as well as several minor burns across her arms and hands, and the blind Earthbender now sat dejectedly over a metal pail, having been violently sick twice already.

"He'll be fine, but he's going to have to stay here for a few days at least. Several of his ribs are cracked, and aside from that gash on his arm there's massive internal bleeding throughout his body. It's stopped, thank Agni, but I'm having to keep him sedated for his own safety. Too much movement, and the bleeding could begin all over again. How he managed to get in this condition without breaking every bone in his body is beyond me."

The older man shot a venomous glance at Katara, "Yeah, well, I have a pretty good guess as to what might have happened, but I don't think it'll be a problem in the future."

"See that it doesn't, I very nearly had to send the boy to the morgue." With a final muttered curse, the doctor returned to the two patients, and the old man turned to Aang with a tired grin.

"Well, now that we have that emergency out of the way, I think maybe we got started on the wrong foot. My name is Tao Ling, but everyone just calls me Ling. I know that you're the Avatar, but I'd feel better if I had another name to call you by."

"I--uh, wait, you don't sound like you're going to arrest me." Aang could feel a cautious hope creeping up inside of him--maybe he can help us while we're here.

"I know what would happen if you were arrested. After the North Pole, the Fire Nation is through trying to capture you. If you read the "wanted" posters carefully, there's a very small line of script at the bottom that says "dead or alive" on it. With you gone, the next Avatar comes from, I think, the Water Tribe, and the Fire Nation thought it could end that threat last winter. Only problem? You. I arrest you, they kill you, and all sorts of trouble ensues."

"So, what? You're just going to play nice and help us? Why?" Katara's glare had absolutely no effect on Ling, who lazily shifted his weight before answering.

"I'm going to help you, girl, because the sooner this war is over, the sooner my boys can go home and be boys again. I've got one of the most perceptive young men I've ever seen as a lieutenant, and I'm sick of him knowing exactly what it is that he can't have because of his uniform. Then, there's that boy in there--head over heels for a noble's daughter and he's tearing himself apart over it because he doesn't know how to be a soldier and in love. And before I forget, a young man who's tried to give himself alcohol poisoning on four occasions--that we know about--and I think you can start seeing the problem."

"I--I didn't know--I just thought--"

"You just thought that we were all fire-breathing monsters, is that right, girl? You've probably been raised in the Water Tribe your whole life, being told that the Fire Nation is evil to its core, and so is every last man, woman, and child who calls it home. Well, we aren't. I'm not, unless you mess with my boys, then I can guarentee you that I will make your existance a waking nightmare."

"Umm, can we just calm down a bit? I don't think we should be fighting."

"You're right, Avatar. I started this off trying to be friendly, and look at me now." He chuckled, "Well, I guess we all have our own faults. I remember now, I was asking you your name."

"It's K--my name's Aang. Really." He added, as Ling's eyebrow's edged upward.

"Aang? Well Aang, how would you like to have a place for you and your friends to live while you're here?"

"I--what--you'd do that for us?"

"Sure would, son. Now, you'd have to do something for me as well."

"Umm, what?"

"Well, it's my wife. See, she needs a bending teacher, and you would be perfect for the job."

"Oh." Aang's face fell, "I--I can't firebend. I tried once and--I didn't do well."

Ling just chuckled again, "Who says you need to teach firebending? We have a house on the outskirts of the capital city, I could find a dozen firebending teachers in a morning's walk. No, I need you to teach her."

"Why me? Couldn't Katara or Toph--"

"Leave me out of this, Twinkle-Toes." Toph looked up at Ling with an amused expression on her face, "Although the guy seems nice enough. As far as I can tell, he's been telling the truth the whole time." The conversation was interrupted by voices outside, and it soon became clear the doctor had another visitor.

"--telling you, I can't allow any more back there."

"I have a message from my husband saying he will be waiting here."

"Please, ma'am, I'm sorry but I have rules concerning how I run my--"

"Let her in, you old quack!" Ling yelled through the door. As it swung open, the doctor huffed through quickly, leaving the woman to close the door herself. She was tall, yet graceful as she slowly made her way into the room. Black hair hung loose around her shoulders, and her pale skin seemed to glow in the dim light of the room. What struck Aang though, was how the light reflected off her eyes, seeming to sparkle with their own stormy light.

"Aang, this is my wife Ashani. Dear, this is Aang."

"A pleasure to meet you, Aang. Ling, why are we here?"

"One of the boys was hurt. The Avatar and his friends ran into Akira, and both sides are paying for it." He gestured at Toph, who had picked that moment to grab her stomach and dive for the pail again. Ashani's face instantly change from worry to motherly as she kneeled next to Toph.

"Don't need help. Fine." Toph grunted through clenched teeth, but Ashani remained by her side as she looked over at Ling, "So who's the Avatar?"

"Aang, don't worry, you can take off that headband." Unsure, he looked over at Katara, who nodded wearily. Giving a tug at the fabric, it fell away and Ashani's eyes widened in shock.

"Ashani, I think I've finally found you an Airbending teacher."